Football coaches often extol the virtues of playing a formidable opponent in their season opener. If nothing else, it at least gives them a fair assessment of their own team.

But it also serves as off-season motivation.

Tennessee players know they need to be at their best from the get-go since they’re opening against nationally ranked West Virginia in Charlotte, N.C.

It’s a great opportunity for new coach Jeremy Pruitt to make a big splash in his first game as a head coach. Three weeks later, he will have another opportunity for a big splash when it opens the SEC season at home against Florida.

Tennessee defensive lineman Shy Tuttle (2) is held back by UTEP offensive lineman Bobby DeHaro (73) and running back Treyvon Hughes (19) while quarterback Kai Locksley (1) looks for an opening during the game on Saturday, September 15, 2018. Saul Young/News Sentinel, NFS

Tennessee defensive lineman Shy Tuttle (2) on the bench during the final minutes of their 40-14 loss to West Virginia in the Belk College Kickoff game in Charlotte, NC Saturday, September 1, 2018. Michael Patrick/News Sentinel (NFS)

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The Vols are a seven-point underdog against the Mountaineers, and they could be a slight underdog against the Gators. Nonetheless, Tennessee probably has a better chance of winning both games than beating any one of its four SEC opponents from Sept. 29 through Oct. 27.

The daunting stretch of games – Georgia, Auburn, Alabama and South Carolina – could have a carryover effect as well. After that, who knows what shape the Vols will be in physically or mentally for their last three games against Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt?

That underscores the significance of the West Virginia and Florida games.

Vols need to protect the ball

Imagine the psychological boost if UT won either game, especially the opener. Winning both isn’t out of the question.

The first two things you notice about the Tennessee-West Virginia matchup: (1) The Vols have yet to decide on their starting quarterback while the Mountaineers have All-American candidate Will Grier; (2) cornerback is a position of uncertainty for UT, and wide receiver is a position of strength for West Virginia.

The disparity at quarterback and the glaring advantage West Virginia receivers should have against UT’s pass coverage help explain why the Vols are an underdog.

But the Mountaineers aren’t as imposing elsewhere. In fact, their defense was the worst in the Big 12 last season.

How bad was it? Bad enough to give up 34 points to 1-11 Kansas and 36 to 1-11 Baylor.

If Tennessee can protect the ball and rely on a ball-control offense to keep the Mountaineers offense on the sideline, an upset isn’t out of the question.

New coach, new Florida?

And imagine how much confidence a victory over West Virginia would give UT going into the Florida game. No matter what happens before the Florida game, the Neyland Stadium crowd never has a problem getting revved up for the Gators.

Florida has made two good moves since it pulled out a last-play victory over Tennessee last September: It got rid of coach Jim McElwain and replaced him with Dan Mullen.

That should work out well for the Gators long-term. But the short-term reality: Mullen is taking over a program that just went 4-7 and couldn’t get out of its own way on offense except when its only obstacle was Bob Shoop’s Tennessee defense.

No doubt, the offense will improve under Mullen. But how much can it improve by Sept. 22?

Maybe, not enough to beat Tennessee in Neyland Stadium.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.